Baseball and Biking to Cure – a Winning Combination!
By now, most involved with VeloSano know that the Indians are a partner. But many might not realize that they were one of our very first partners.
“We got a call early on, and we were very involved from the first year. We were looking for some kind of event where we could take our brand and extend it in the community, tied to a cause that meant a lot to a lot of people,” said Paul Dolan, Chairman and CEO of the Cleveland Indians. “It was a great marriage. The ability to ride and to do something that meant something to our organization, to our community.”
And what a great marriage it has been! We’re headed into our fourth year and still going strong. As one of our Founding Partners, the Indians support has been invaluable. They helped put us on the map with in-stadium signage, visible both in-person and to television viewers nationwide, and in-game radio commercials to generate awareness and participation. They have also been the host to many VeloSano-related activities, including team captain gatherings, cultivation events for new participants and celebrity bartending fundraisers, featuring both Indians players and coaches.
“It’s been just a great experience to connect with the community in ways that I wouldn't otherwise be able to do, and it's been a way for us to connect as an organization,” Dolan continued. “We have a large presence in the community and we've been able to use it to reach out to those impacted by cancer, and frankly, that’s pretty much everybody, and bring them into this really fun, exciting, and yet very worthwhile event.”
In addition to their partnership support, they are also very engaged in the ride itself. In fact, they invite fans to join their VeloSano team! The Indians will provide complimentary registration fees ($60-$175 value) to the first 50 members who register, and their team members also will receive a Cleveland Indians-themed cycling jersey, which will be designed by former Indian and current first base coach, Sandy Alomar! Those wishing to join the Tribe team should email HWeiker@indians.com; a registration code will be provided.
We are so grateful to the Cleveland Indians for all they do, and wish them a winning 2017 season! #RallyTogether
100% to cancer research would not be possible without our Corporate Partners. The financial and in-kind backing we receive from our partners covers all of our operational event costs, which, in turn, allows us to allocate every dollar raised by our participants to cancer research at Cleveland Clinic.